Method for controlling a mobile communication device to enter a power-saving mode and to recover timing after the mobile communication device leaves the power-saving mode

Abstract

A method for controlling a mobile communication device to enter a power-saving mode and to recover timing after the mobile communication device leaves the power-saving mode. The mobile communication device communicates with a base station through a time division multiple access (TDMA) system so that wireless signals are transmitted via frames. The method includes executing a sleep mode managing / timing recovering program for interrupting other control procedures, utilizing the sleep mode managing / timing recovering program to calculate a predetermined sleep period, controlling the mobile communication device to enter the sleep mode, executing the sleep mode managing / timing recovering program for stopping a clock signal from driving a micro-controller unit during an actual sleep period, controlling the mobile communication device to terminate the sleep mode, and executing the sleep mode managing / timing recovering program for synchronizing timing of the mobile communication device with timing of the base station according to the actual sleep period.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 707,872, which was filed on Jan. 20, 2004 and is included herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]The present invention relates to a method of controlling frame timing of a mobile communication device. More specifically, the present invention discloses a method for managing a mobile communication device to enter a sleep mode and for recovering frame timing of the mobile communication device after the sleep mode is terminated through an interrupt service routine having the highest priority.[0003]A wireless communication system includes a plurality of base stations. Each base station corresponds to a cell, and is used to control signal reception and signal transmission of a plurality of mobile units located at the cell. The mobile units mostly are portable communication devices or mobile communication devices. For instance, within a global system for mobile communications (GSM),...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for managing a mobile communication device to enter a sleep mode and recovering frame timing after the sleep mode is terminated through an interrupt service routine with a highest priority. This method allows for efficient management of the sleep mode and recovery of timing after the sleep mode is terminated, reducing power consumption and extending battery life. The method includes executing a sleep mode managing / timing recovering program to interrupt other control procedures currently loaded by the real-time operating system, controlling the mobile unit to enter the sleep mode, executing the program to stop the first clock signal from driving the micro-controller unit during an actual sleep period, controlling the mobile unit to terminate the sleep mode, and executing the program to synchronize timing of the mobile communication device with timing of the base station according to the actual sleep period. This method provides a simple scheme and an efficient way to manage the sleep mode and recover the frame timing after the sleep mode is terminated.

Problems solved by technology

Obviously the capacity of the rechargeable battery is limited.

If a rechargeable battery with great power capacity is used by a cellular phone to increase overall operational time of the cellular phone, the rechargeable battery substantially increases the size and weight of the cellular phone so that it is not convenient to carry the bulky cellular phone.

Therefore, how to decrease the power consumption of the cellular phone has become an important issue.

In other words, unnecessary power dissipated during the idle mode is cut.

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